Giants stay alive with extra stanza win

The San Francisco Giants bats did not have much in them in two losses to the Cincinnati Reds at home by McCovey Cove and the bats did not appear to travel with them as the Giants only rapped three hits in ten innings against Cincinnati hurling,with two of the three in the tenth.
Fortunately,San Francisco manufactured runs in the third and tenth,using every possible manner beside the scattered hits to score runners.
The Giants used a walk,a hit batsman and a sac fly by Angel Pagan to score in the third to force the extra play and after leadoff singles by Buster Posey and a gimpy Hunter Pence,used a passed ball by Reds backstop Ryan Hanigan to set the stage for an error by usually leather friendly Scott Rolen of the Reds off the stick of Joaquin Arias to stave off elimination with a 2-1 win.
The Reds still lead the series two games to one,so the Giants are still one loss away today from ending their season.
Sergio Romo pitched the ninth and tenth to earn the teams first post-season win of the season.
The Giants will send lefthander Barry Zito this afternoon with Cincinnati undecided on their pitcher as they have to choose between Mat Latos and Mike Leake.

Giants Steps

1) I didn't have much to write about in the two losses,which is why I didn't.
Game one was spent at the work office jumping back and forth with the Ohio State-Nebraska game and Game two was so lopsided that I decided to say to heck with it.
This one though was able to be watched from beginning to end.

2) I have never been a Ryan Vogelsong fan dating back to his days as a Pirate,but getting through five innings with his control way off,showed some grit.
Vogelsong has struggled badly over the last month and I was a bit hesitant when I saw that Bruce Bochy was going with him over Tim Lincecum,but it was a passable start considering....

3) Give it up for the San Francisco pen-four pitchers,five innings and just one hit.
The Giants bullpen was questioned by some entering the series and maybe with justification,but not on this day...

4) Those of you fantasy baseball players out there should take notice of Homer Bailey of the Reds.
Bailey,who no hit the Pirates last month,struck out ten and allowed just one hit in seven innings.
The power armed Bailey had great command of his fastball,which has taken some time for him to grasp at the major league level.
Watch for Homer Bailey to break out next season and give the Reds a big three that can match anyone in their rotation with Bailey,Johnny Cueto and Mat Latos,

5) Interesting note as with the exception of role players (not playing every night) Joaquin Arias and Gregor Blanco,only Buster Posey is hitting above the Mendoza line for the series.
Going to be tough to win these next two games with weak sticks such as that.

6) Hunter Pence did not have a hit in the series until his final at bat,in which he limped up the line with awful calf cramps.
If Pence does not get rolling (or at least avoid cramps) today,it becomes difficult for the Giants to win.

7) Why the above? Barry Zito may win games,but he always gives up runs.
For the Giants to win today,it will take at least three runs and likely more..

8) Contact? Not much to see here as the Giants struck out an eye popping 16 times.
Yuck!

More on Game four from the road office later tonight!